By Dee Richard
At long last spring is on its way. This column was written last Thursday, which was one of those breathtakingly beautiful days, the kind that makes you feel it is great just to be alive. Enjoy the hiatus as spring is such a short time between the cold, dark, damp winter and the relentlessly hot, humid summer.
It is with great sadness that I have to report on the death of Christopher Reese during the first week of March. His funeral was held March 6 at Grace Church in Whitestone.
Chris was the husband of Georgianna Reese. They were married for 30 years. Whenever you saw them at one of the numerous community affairs they attended in connection with Georgianna’s job (she was the vice president of New York Community Bank), you could not help but notice how devoted and ideally suited there were to each other.
I remember one event at which Georgianna was being honored for something or other and I commented to Chris what a gorgeous black dress, complete with a black feather boa, she was wearing. His face lit up with a happy smile and he said to me, “Isn’t she just beautiful?” He said it with such a depth of sincere feelings that I still remember it, even though it was several years ago.
Chris graduated from Peekskill Military Academy and Mountvale College in New Jersey. He loved to go to West Point for all the football games.
One of the other things they enjoyed doing together was going out on their boat, “Good Times,” which was moored in Port Washington at the marina.
Chris was president and CEO of his own refrigeration company. Georgianna just recently retired after 38 years with the New York Community Bank. They both lived happy, productive lives.
While our loved ones are never with us long enough, Chris and Georgianna had 30 wonderful years. There are many sad and lonely people in this world who have never known the joy and happiness of sharing even one year with a loved one.
Georgianna, your mom is a strong, supportive woman so count your blessings that you have her. Know that Chris will always be watching over you with love.
On a happier note, Frank Macchio and Rosalia Zummo have set the date for their wedding, April 17. They will be married at Holy Trinity Church with a reception following at Terrace on the Park. Congratulations and best wishes to you both.
Young, single women out there, please take note: Queens eligible bachelors are disappearing faster than a snowball on the Fourth of July. Happy first anniversary to me and my readers of the Dishing with Dee column. It appeared in the TimesLedger Newspapers for the first time on March 20, 2003. I can’t believe how fast this year has gone by. It has been so much fun.
Thank you to TimesLedger Newspapers publisher Steve Blank for giving me the opportunity to write the column, and thank all of you readers for making it such a popular one and for contributing all of the tidbits of information on what’s happening in Queens. Here’s to another year of fun and local gossip. Please keep all those calls coming.
Now that spring has sprung the happenings in Queens are beginning to pick up speed, but I wish they would try to spread out the events a little more evenly. Thursday is a killer day. Has anyone ever given Sunday brunch a thought as an alternative or perhaps a late Sunday afternoon cocktail party? It works for me.
The 109th Precinct still has a month to go for the sale of the raffle tickets for Officer Tommy Brophy. You can pick them up at the 109th from Lt. Forgione or Sgt. Beneventi. The drawing will be April 8. Tommy’s baby just celebrated his second birthday this week. Happy birthday, Matthew.
Sunday was a gorgeous day for the fifth annual all-inclusive St. Patrick’s Day parade. It started in Sunnyside and ended in Woodside. New Paltz Mayor Jason West came to speak and to march in the parade. At one point when he was standing next to City Council Speaker Giff Miller, chatting, they looked so much alike they could have passed for brothers, as they are both good-looking young men.
At the parade’s end there was a typical Irish reception and party at the Tower View on Roosevelt Avenue and 61st Street. The eating, drinking and dancing contributed to a fun day, and the party to end it all was even more fun.
When Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who marched in the parade from beginning to end, was questioned about his stance on gay marriages, he said he could not legally condone them. However, if they successfully lobby Albany to get the law changed he would be happy to comply. What else could he say?
Don’t get mad at him, guys, he did not write the laws but his job requires that he uphold them. Good luck in your lobbying efforts.
The Queens Center for Progress, formerly United Cerebral Palsy of Queens, held its annual evening of fine food at Terrace on the Park. The Chef of the Year was Jackie Arrington and the special honoree was Councilman David Weprin. Some of the other chefs were Gloria D’Amico, Joel Miele, Frank Macchio and Joe Previte. Joes’ linguine with white clam sauce is the absolute best in Queens.
Of course, all of Queens finest restaurants and purveyors of specialty foods and wines were there with samples of their wares. Everyone who participated in tasting all the goodies must have put on at least 10 pounds each.
Have you been reading about the Victoria Schneps vs. Joyce Shepard plastic surgery wars? The sniping is more amusing than lethal, and it certainly spices up a dull day.
That’s it for this week. Don’t forget to check out the “Focus on Queens” page, although last week we didn’t have one. I got bumped, but look for it this week.
Keep the information and invitations flowing by voice mail at 718-767-6484, fax at 718-746-0066 or e-mail at deerrichard@aol.com.
Till next week,
Dee
